Estoril MotoGP: Jorge Lorenzo looking to keep title hopes alive

Jorge Lorenzo reckons his main target in this weekend’s Portuguese MotoGP clash will be ensuring he keeps his world title hopes alive.

The Spaniard returns to the scene of his stunning maiden MotoGP success in Estoril this weekend hoping to close down a 30-point deficit on Fiat Yamaha team-mate Valentino Rossi.

Lorenzo, who has won three races in 2009, said: “I am really excited to be coming back to race, a month is too long after the summer. It’s been strange to have such a long break but I’ve tried to use the time to prepare for the final races. Now we go to Estoril, where I had one of the best moments of my life.

“In the past I was never strong there but last year I did an unbelievable race. This year it’s a different situation; a different time of year, everyone has the same tyres and we are in the closing stages of the championship. My aim is to have a good weekend in order to keep the championship going.”

The 22-year-old, who recently shunned a big-money move to Ducati to commit to another year with Yamaha’s factory squad, said he was looking forward to locking horns again with Aussie Casey Stoner.

Stoner will return after missing the previous three races to recuperate from a mystery illness.

Lorenzo added: “I am also happy that we will see Casey back this weekend because he brings another challenge for all of us.”